Yes, you can buy poppies from a florist. While the flower has a complicated public image due to its association with restricted varieties, the poppies sold as cut flowers are widely available ornamental types. These blooms are prized for their delicate, crinkled petals and vibrant colors, making them a popular choice for spring and early summer arrangements. The flowers found at florists are completely legal to purchase, sell, and enjoy.
Identifying Floral and Garden Poppy Types
The ornamental poppies commonly sold are distinct species from the legally restricted variety and are cultivated purely for their aesthetic beauty. One of the most frequently used types is the Iceland Poppy (Papaver nudicaule), known for its delicate, paper-like texture and wide range of pastel colors, including yellow, pink, and orange. These poppies are often used in softer, more romantic floral designs due to their refined appearance and long, slender stems.
Another popular choice is the Oriental Poppy (Papaver orientale), which produces much larger, showier blooms up to six inches across with striking black centers. These robust perennial plants add a dramatic flair, typically in shades of brilliant red, orange, or deep pink. The Corn Poppy, or Field Poppy (Papaver rhoeas), is also common, recognizable by its bright red petals and small size.
Cultivated versions of the Corn Poppy, such as the Shirley Poppy, offer softer shades of white, pink, and scarlet. These ornamental species have been successfully bred for the commercial cut-flower market.
Purchasing and Caring for Cut Poppies
Poppies are available from florists during their peak season, which runs from late spring through early summer. When purchasing, look for flowers that are still in the “cracked bud” stage, meaning the outer protective cap is just beginning to lift away to reveal the color beneath. Poppies purchased fully open will have a much shorter vase life, as their petals are fragile.
Poppies require a specific conditioning technique to prolong their delicate life, which typically lasts only a few days to a week. The stems exude a milky, sticky sap when cut, which can quickly seal the stem end and prevent water uptake. To counteract this, florists recommend cauterizing the stem end immediately after making a fresh cut.
You can cauterize the stem by dipping the bottom inch into boiling water for 10 to 30 seconds or by briefly searing the tip with a flame until it blackens. This heat treatment seals the sap inside the stem, allowing the flower to properly hydrate. After treatment, the poppies should be placed in a clean vase with shallow, lukewarm water.
Understanding the Legally Restricted Varieties
The confusion surrounding the legality of poppies stems entirely from one specific species: the Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum). This plant is the source of opiates like morphine and codeine, and its cultivation is strictly regulated in many jurisdictions. Federal law in the United States classifies the Opium Poppy as a controlled substance, making large-scale, unlicensed cultivation illegal.
The restricted status applies to the cultivation of the plant itself, not the purchase of poppy seeds used for baking, which come from the same species but have minimal opiate content. Legitimate florists and cut-flower growers do not sell Papaver somniferum as a fresh bloom.